This was in yesterdays paper! Congrats on the power moves, Mugz!!
MINI 'E'
Rising out of the shadows of his famous brothers and sister, Vallejo native Dulon "Mugzi" Stevens Sr. has reached another level in the rap game with his family's blessings.
He's launched his new CD, "Lifestyles Of The Disobayish," on his new record label, 30/30 Records. He's also introduced his newest Vallejo artist under the label DeMar "Turf Talk" Bernstine, who released his first CD, "The Street Novelist," earlier this month.
Mugzi comes from a family of rappers. His older brothers are E-40 and D-Shot, and his sister is Suga-T, whose success in the rap industry spans more than 15 years.
A Hogan High School graduate, Mugzi has already set up shop in Solano County and wants his new company to have a positive effect on the community.
In 2003, Mugzi added "executive" to his resume by forming his independent label in conjunction with Sic Wid It Records.
He already has a complete lineup of talented artists waiting to get their music on the radio and sold in major record stores around the country.
With "Disobayish" on the market and now Turf Talk with "Street Novelist," Mugzi hopes to rise above his previous sales. His first album, The Mossie, "Have Heart-Have Money" on Sick Wid It/Jive Records, hit 100,000.
E-40 can be heard on hit singles from "Disobayish" titled "Fastlane" and "Double Fisted."
Turf Talk is a cousin, who at 23, has made appearances on E-40's "Gasoline" and Rick Rock's "The Federation's" hit remix of "Hyphy."
E-40 appears with Turf Talk on the hit "Slumper."
Turf Talk's postcards are distributed around the country with him posing in the middle of the street as he writes in his lyrical journal, at Vallejo's Kentucky and Calaveras streets.
Other local artists signed under 30/30 include Kaveo, Poppi Cas and Tha Dirty Boyz known in Vallejo as Montrell and Vernon Harris II.
With 15 years in the business with The Click, Mugzi intends to follow his entrepreneurial family's example, all the way to the top.
"30/30 Records represents coming to you with good spit. And good spit, meaning, good lyrical heat," Mugzi said about his company.
"Both of our CDs are soundtracks. It has different flavors of music on the tracks," he said.
His cousin, Vallejo musician Levitti, produced the radio hit "Emotional," featuring Turf Talk.
Mugzi managed to mix hip-hop, rap, R&B and Jamaica artists to complete the 20-track groove on "Disobayish."
Though Mugzi is not looking for more artists to produce at this time, he does want to tell youths about the business and speak to them about making the right choices in life.
"We're not just rappers," Mugzi said. "When we're promoting our records, we have to get up at 5 a.m. to be at three or four radio stations that day, then go perform at five concerts in three days in five different states."
Some rappers brag about not finishing school and making it in the industry. But Mugzi said he is glad he was a good student in high school and college. He feels education is a much-needed in the music industry.
He left Vallejo in 1992 to play football at Sacramento City College. While at Hogan, he played football and baseball. He was a part of Hogan's last championship football team in 1992.
"I was pretty A-1 in school," Mugzi said, "did my school work. I was pretty good in sports and the teachers loved me. I guess you could've called me the intelligent thug.'"
Back then violence was on the rise at Hogan, but Mugzi took part in forming a club to help calm the disturbances, he said.
"I helped to start the Gentlemen's Club with Mr. Tramble," he said. "We had a rule to wear collared shirts on the days of our meetings. We discussed how to be successful in life, rather than fighting each other. It eventually squashed a lot of fights."
With traveling around the world with E-40 and The Click, Mugzi wants to share his experiences with youths who dream of a rap career.
"I really want to tell them that everybody don't have to be a rapper," he said.
"Young people have to take advantage of their talents. I'm not telling them to give up their dreams, but think about other careers. If you're a great athlete, then go for the football or baseball career. But also consider being a doctor, lawyer. In the music business, youth have to understand that advance payments don't sell records. If you don't sell a certain amount of records, you have to pay the money back."
Mugzi said he wants to make Vallejo the company's "homebase" for launching new artists.
"This city is filled with raw talent and (Vallejo) has a lot of successful rappers still out there making it. I hope we can form a bond with the community with fund-raisers and other projects for youth," he said.
"Lifestyles of the Disobayish," and "The Street Novelist" can be found in all major record stores.
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MINI 'E'
Rising out of the shadows of his famous brothers and sister, Vallejo native Dulon "Mugzi" Stevens Sr. has reached another level in the rap game with his family's blessings.
He's launched his new CD, "Lifestyles Of The Disobayish," on his new record label, 30/30 Records. He's also introduced his newest Vallejo artist under the label DeMar "Turf Talk" Bernstine, who released his first CD, "The Street Novelist," earlier this month.
Mugzi comes from a family of rappers. His older brothers are E-40 and D-Shot, and his sister is Suga-T, whose success in the rap industry spans more than 15 years.
A Hogan High School graduate, Mugzi has already set up shop in Solano County and wants his new company to have a positive effect on the community.
In 2003, Mugzi added "executive" to his resume by forming his independent label in conjunction with Sic Wid It Records.
He already has a complete lineup of talented artists waiting to get their music on the radio and sold in major record stores around the country.
With "Disobayish" on the market and now Turf Talk with "Street Novelist," Mugzi hopes to rise above his previous sales. His first album, The Mossie, "Have Heart-Have Money" on Sick Wid It/Jive Records, hit 100,000.
E-40 can be heard on hit singles from "Disobayish" titled "Fastlane" and "Double Fisted."
Turf Talk is a cousin, who at 23, has made appearances on E-40's "Gasoline" and Rick Rock's "The Federation's" hit remix of "Hyphy."
E-40 appears with Turf Talk on the hit "Slumper."
Turf Talk's postcards are distributed around the country with him posing in the middle of the street as he writes in his lyrical journal, at Vallejo's Kentucky and Calaveras streets.
Other local artists signed under 30/30 include Kaveo, Poppi Cas and Tha Dirty Boyz known in Vallejo as Montrell and Vernon Harris II.
With 15 years in the business with The Click, Mugzi intends to follow his entrepreneurial family's example, all the way to the top.
"30/30 Records represents coming to you with good spit. And good spit, meaning, good lyrical heat," Mugzi said about his company.
"Both of our CDs are soundtracks. It has different flavors of music on the tracks," he said.
His cousin, Vallejo musician Levitti, produced the radio hit "Emotional," featuring Turf Talk.
Mugzi managed to mix hip-hop, rap, R&B and Jamaica artists to complete the 20-track groove on "Disobayish."
Though Mugzi is not looking for more artists to produce at this time, he does want to tell youths about the business and speak to them about making the right choices in life.
"We're not just rappers," Mugzi said. "When we're promoting our records, we have to get up at 5 a.m. to be at three or four radio stations that day, then go perform at five concerts in three days in five different states."
Some rappers brag about not finishing school and making it in the industry. But Mugzi said he is glad he was a good student in high school and college. He feels education is a much-needed in the music industry.
He left Vallejo in 1992 to play football at Sacramento City College. While at Hogan, he played football and baseball. He was a part of Hogan's last championship football team in 1992.
"I was pretty A-1 in school," Mugzi said, "did my school work. I was pretty good in sports and the teachers loved me. I guess you could've called me the intelligent thug.'"
Back then violence was on the rise at Hogan, but Mugzi took part in forming a club to help calm the disturbances, he said.
"I helped to start the Gentlemen's Club with Mr. Tramble," he said. "We had a rule to wear collared shirts on the days of our meetings. We discussed how to be successful in life, rather than fighting each other. It eventually squashed a lot of fights."
With traveling around the world with E-40 and The Click, Mugzi wants to share his experiences with youths who dream of a rap career.
"I really want to tell them that everybody don't have to be a rapper," he said.
"Young people have to take advantage of their talents. I'm not telling them to give up their dreams, but think about other careers. If you're a great athlete, then go for the football or baseball career. But also consider being a doctor, lawyer. In the music business, youth have to understand that advance payments don't sell records. If you don't sell a certain amount of records, you have to pay the money back."
Mugzi said he wants to make Vallejo the company's "homebase" for launching new artists.
"This city is filled with raw talent and (Vallejo) has a lot of successful rappers still out there making it. I hope we can form a bond with the community with fund-raisers and other projects for youth," he said.
"Lifestyles of the Disobayish," and "The Street Novelist" can be found in all major record stores.
